Hendra Virus Still Causing Problems in Australia

Twelve horses in Queensland and New South Wales have tested positive for hendra virus since late June.
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The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) has reported that 12 horses in Queensland and New South Wales have tested positive for hendra virus since late June. Six facilities in Queensland and three in New South Wales remain under quarantine while veterinarians test the other horses on the properties for the dangerous virus.

Hendra virus has been known to yield numerous clinical signs in horses including respiratory distress, frothy nasal discharge, elevated body temperature (above 40°C, or 104°F), and elevated heart rate; however, authorities caution that hendra infection does not have specific signs.

According to Andrew W. van Eps, BVSc, PhD, MACVSc, Dipl. ACVIM, senior lecturer in Equine Medicine at The University of Queensland School of Veterinary Science, this year has seen an increased number of confirmed hendra cases at separate facilities (rather than one large outbreak in one location, as has occurred in previous years). "From its first identification in 1994 in the suburb of Hendra, Brisbane, Queensland, there had been 14 independent ‘outbreaks’ of Hendra virus up until this year, and those occurrences have resulted in 45 horse deaths and four human deaths (20 of these horse deaths and two human deaths occurred in the original outbreak in Hendra in 1994," van Eps explained. "The other occurrences have all involved only small numbers of horses each time and often only single horses. This year so far in Queensland, there have been six separate ‘outbreaks’ with eight horses dead since June."

Van Eps explained that hendra virus is prevalent in the flying fox (a type of fruit bat found in Australia) population, and researchers believe horses contract the virus from these bats. The exact method of transmission, however, remains unclear

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Erica Larson, former news editor for The Horse, holds a degree in journalism with an external specialty in equine science from Michigan State University in East Lansing. A Massachusetts native, she grew up in the saddle and has dabbled in a variety of disciplines including foxhunting, saddle seat, and mounted games. Currently, Erica competes in eventing with her OTTB, Dorado.

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